Improvement in steam-boilers



H. `w. Rice. VSteam-Boilers.

. Patented 1an. 2o, m74.` I

UNITED STATES HARVEY w. RICE, OE. IIAYwoon, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEM EN'T IN STEAM-BOILERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,614, dated January 20,1874; application filed i November 3, 1875i"y I To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARVEY WOOD RICE, of Haywood, Alameda county, State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements Ain Steam-Boilers; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawing are suflicient to enable any person skilled in the art 'or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention Without further invention or experiment.

My invcntionrelates to certain improvements in the construction of steam-boilers, whereby I am enabled to utilize straw and other light substances for fuel, so that a complete combustion of the smoke is attained, and the danger from fire in harvest-elds,

where these boilers are more especially useful,

is entirely obviated; and to a novel method of securing the tubes and tube-sheets Within the shell of the boiler, so that they canbe at any time easily removed for the purpose of cleaning or repairing, and at a much less expense than is ordinarily entailed for such work.

Referring to tl1e.,accompanyi11g drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a perspective view, exposing1 the tube-sheet at one end of .the boiler. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is an end view with rear head removed. Fig. 4 shows the tube and tube-sheet removed. Fig. 5 is an enlarged View, showin g the rear tube, sheetiian ge, and ring.

A is the shell of my boiler, which is more especially intended to be used for that class of engines employed in thrashing and other field work where there is straw or other light material enough for fuel, but which has never been satisfactorily burned without an artificial draft or blast, and which has always been dangerous by reason of the sparks thrown out on account of incomplete combustion. In order to remedy these faults, and

perfectly consume all the smoke and sparks, I erforate my tube-sheets B B, so as to admit one large tube, C, near the bottom, which receives the fuel upon a grate, D, and acts at the same time as a tube and fire-box. Any -suitable feeder may be employed to supply straw to the grate, but I have found the del vice patented by D. Morey, June 20, 1873, to

be very suitable.- Above and around the sides of the large tubes C I placesmall or locomotive-boiler tubes e e, as shown, and these serve to return the heat and the products of combustion to the chimney F, which is located at the front end of the boiler, and communicates with the .chamber I-I, formed between the liuc-sheet and the head or door G. M A similar chamber, H', is formed at the bck end of the boiler, into which the products of combustion pass from the large line C before entering the return-fines e.

By this construction the light fuel is thoroughly ignited in its passage through the large tube, which has plenty of air admitted for the purpose. trated in returning through the small ues,` and the combustion will be so complete that no sparks and but very little smoke will escape from the chimney, and this latter will not even need a bonnet. y y

The tubesheets B B are made with a iiange, i, which is turned outward, and these flanges are pierced, so as to admit screwbolts or rivg i ets g, as may be preferred. These bolts secure the tube-sheets in their places perfectly steam and water tight. i

VheneVer, by reasonof long use,there is a collection of scale lor sediment, or if the tubes or the interior of the boiler need repairing, the screw-bolts can be removed; or, if

rivets are used, they can be cut off, when the p. l

two tube-sheets with the tubes can be removed from the shell in' a body, and repairs or cleanin g can be easily effected with much less time and trouble than when the boilers are made in the ordinary manner. The ange on the rear tube-sheet is turned so much smaller thanthe interior of the shell that an iron ring, a, can be introduced between it andr l the shell, the bolt passing throughit. When it is necessary to remove the tubes and sheets,

this ring can be taken out after removing the nuts and rivets, and this leavesthe rear tube` sheet small enough to pass any rivets or obstructions freely when taking it out.

By this construction I am enabled to make a boiler and furnace in which straw can be used as a fuelwithperfect safety, and in which repairs can be easily effected.

The heat and flame will be conceit' l Having thus described my invention, what I movable from the shell in a bod y, substantially as and for the purpose set fort-l1.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal. HARVEY WOOD RICE. [L. s] "Witnesses:

C. M. RICHARDSON, JOHN L. BOONE. 

